If the Holy Spirit is like a fire, the spiritual disciplines are like logs on this fire. To wake up each day and pray, read the Bible, practice silence and solitude, is to add fuel to the fire in hopes that something catches; in hopes that we burn brighter.

We think if we do all the things right, we will get the desired outcome. We want things like our children’s salvation to be something we can control. We want life and all the circumstances in it to be formulaic, predictable. We want guarantees that if we do our part, we will get whatever result we think is best. But most of life doesn’t work that way.

Even on the days when it seemed like He wasn’t listening or at least wasn’t answering, He was there. He knows the beginning from the end. On those days when everything is cloudy and we don’t know up from down, He knows. In our years of prayer, in both our moments of persistence and our moments of doubt, He had a plan. 

But what about Thanksgivings where we just don’t feel very thankful? What about when we are living through trial after trial, hardship after hardship, conflict after conflict? As Christians, disciples of Jesus, what do we do when we can’t seem to be thankful?

These heroes teach us that faith isn’t about having all the answers or never feeling fear—it’s about trusting God in the midst of uncertainty.

So, what can the Spirit-indwelt child of God do who is weary, thirsty, hungry, or alone? My main encouragement is this:  Pursue Jesus and His fellowship. Pursue Jesus as the one who is better - better than the life we have apart from Him. 

Whether in plenty or in want, we must fix our eyes on truth of God’s goodness, His character, and His grace toward us in Christ. Only faith in Him will enable us not only to endure suffering but to rejoice. 

I am always encouraged and inspired by youth and kids who live out their faith authentically because they were able to make a heart connection to the truth of the gospel. While God can reveal Himself to anyone anytime, I am grateful that we can play a role when kids are young.

Life is complicated and messy. Sometimes God absolutely works miracles. But other times he can respond more like another answer to suffering: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9). And sometimes, God just doesn't answer right away.

What does it mean to worship a God that we cannot see? To sing praises to Jesus, though we haven’t had the opportunity to talk with Him and walk with Him as the disciples did? In short, it means that we are blessed: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29b).

All of us will be up against an impossible task, life event, situation, and we won’t know what to do. But we can fix our eyes on Him, the one who has been faithful time after time.

New City Church has officially joined the Soma Network of Churches.